The Clintons to Raise Awareness for Elephants with a Fashion Week Statue

There's a pink elephant in the room at New York Fashion Week, and it’s not the byproduct of one flute of champagne too many. This 10-foot-tall Tristin Lowe–designed pink elephant is the work of the Bill, Hillary, & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, in collaboration with Made Fashion Week. Designed to bring awareness to the mass killing of African elephants and the illegal ivory trade, the inflatable statue stands tall at Milk Studios in West Chelsea; 15,000 people are expected to pass through the space this week for Made Fashion Week's 30 runway shows and presentations.

The idea to target Fashion Week came to Chelsea Clinton during a conversation with Diane von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta. The close Clinton “family friends” directed her to Anna Wintour, who then linked her with the C.F.D.A., which ultimately led to a connection with Made. Chelsea told The New York Times, “The Made community in particular can raise awareness why this is so wrong and not in our long-term interests.” And she’s hoping they do it through social media. Ali Rubin, the deputy chief of staff for Chelsea, said: “Let’s say Karlie Kloss is going to Made and posts about the installation and the crisis, then her 1 million Instagram followers see it’s an issue. We know that the people who follow her, for example, are likely the same people who are purchasing high-end goods—including, at times, ivory.” The good news for the initiative, which will also include a jewelry line, is that the fashion crowd can't resist a good Instagram selfie in front of a prop.